Uranium Energy Corp. 9801 Anderson Mill Road, Suite 230 Austin, Texas, U.S.A., 78750 Dear Sir; PROPOSED OPTION AND JOINT VENTURE TERMS
14 January 2009
Uranium Energy Corp.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, X.X.X., 00000
Dear Sir;
PROPOSED OPTION AND JOINT VENTURE TERMS
We refer to the recent discussions between representatives of Uran Limited ("Uran") and representatives of Uranium Energy Corporation ("UEC") regarding an option to earn-in agreement and subsequent formation of a joint venture between Uran (or one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) and UEC (each a "Party" or in combination the "Parties") to explore, develop and, if warranted, mine on the tenements comprising the project known as the Grants Ridge Project located in New Mexico, United States of America (the "Project") and more particularly described in Schedule 1 (and any replacement or successor tenements) (collectively, the "Tenements").
The purpose of this letter is to record the intent and agreement of the Parties in respect of an option to earn-in and proposed joint venture between the Parties in relation to exploring, developing and, if warranted, mining the Tenements (the "Agreement"). This Agreement is intended to be binding, subject to clauses 1.1 and 1.3 below, on the Parties as and from the date this Agreement is signed by both Parties (herein the "Execution Date").
The Parties acknowledge and agree that certain of Xxxx'x rights and obligations under this Agreement may be performed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uran to be incorporated in the United States of America; with UEC to be informed of any such subsidiary promptly upon its formation and with any such subsidiary, upon such notice to UEC, to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if it was a Party to this Agreement in place of Uran.
1. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
1.1 This Agreement is subject to and conditional upon Uran confirming in writing to UEC that Uran is satisfied (in its sole and absolute discretion) with the results of its due diligence investigations in relation to the Tenements including, but not limited to, the status of the commitments of claims and reservations in respect of the Tenements (collectively, the "Accepted Due Diligence").
1.2 The condition in clause 1.1 is inserted in this Agreement for the exclusive benefit of Uran and may only be waived by Xxxx in its sole and absolute discretion.
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ABN 93 107 316 683 0/000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx XX 0000 Xxxxxxxxx XX Xxx 0000, Xxxx Xxxxx XX 0000 Xxxxxxxxx |
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1.3 Except for clauses 6(d) and (e), which survive termination of this Agreement, if the Accepted Due Diligence condition set out in clause 1.1 is not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or before 15 February 2009 (or any later date agreed in writing by the Parties), this Agreement shall be deemed to be at an end and of no force or effect with neither of the Parties being subject to any of the obligations contained in this Agreement and with neither Party claiming any rights at law or equity against the other Party.
1.4 The Parties shall use their best efforts to execute and do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable to ensure that the Accepted Due Diligence condition set out in clause 1.1 is fulfilled as expeditiously as possible and, in particular, UEC shall provide Uran, as soon as practicable after the Execution Date, with any and all information, documentation and assistance, including historical mining and exploration records, in respect of the Tenements or impacting on the Tenements that Uran requires to conduct its due diligence on the Tenements in accordance with clause 1.1.
2. TENEMENTS
2.1 Current Interest in the Tenements
As at the Execution Date the interests of UEC and Uran in the Tenements will be:
(a) UEC - 100%; and
(b) Uran - 0%.
UEC represents and warrants to Uran that, as at the Execution Date and as at the Effective Date:
(a) it is the sole registered, legal and beneficial owner of the Tenements and, subject to (b) below, has good right and title to assign an interest therein free from any mortgages, claims, caveats, pledges, liens, charges or other encumbrances (other than land access agreements with ranch owners and the rights and obligations contained in the memorandum of uranium mining lease between UEC and Xxxx Xxxxxx; the details of which have been provided to Uran prior to execution of this Agreement; and payments pursuant to prior agreements) to Uran as contemplated in this Agreement;
(b) it may transfer the legal and beneficial interest in the Tenements as contemplated in this Agreement without obtaining the prior consent of any other party;
(c) there is no litigation nor are there any proceedings of any nature whatsoever concerning the Tenements pending or threatened against it;
(d) the Tenements have been duly and properly applied for pursuant to applicable legislation and regulations and all Outgoings due as at the Effective Date have been paid by Uranium Energy;
e) the Tenements are in all respects valid, effective and in good standing and, save and except for permits that are required for exploration and operations activities, there is no term of the Tenements that is likely to prevent the exploration or mining of uranium and not liable to forfeiture and where necessary appropriate exemptions from the expenditure conditions attaching to the Tenements have been duly obtained;
(f) it has made no other agreement regarding the Tenements (other than land access agreements with ranch owners and the memorandum of uranium mining lease between UEC and Xxxx Xxxxxx) and has the sole and exclusive right to deal therein, and no person firm or corporation, other than Uran, holds any rights to explore, prospect or mine any part of the Tenements (other than rights contained in the land access agreements with ranch owners and the uranium mining lease between UEC and Xxxx Xxxxxx);
(g) there are no royalties affecting the Tenements other than the royalty referred to in the uranium mining lease between UEC and Xxxx Xxxxxx;
(h) the Tenements have been granted over the entire ground as described in the respective applications therefore; and
(i) it has provided Uran with all material notices and any other information in its possession in respect of claims and reservations in respect of the Tenements.
2.3 Indemnity
Both Parties agree to indemnify and keep indemnified the other Party in respect of any loss, damage, expense or cost incurred by the other Party as a result of a breach by that Party of a representation or warranty contained in this Agreement.
In order to maintain its right to earn a 65% interest in and to the Tenements in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (herein the "Earn-In Interest"), within 10 calendar days of the Effective Date Uran must:
(a) pay UEC a non-refundable payment of US$75,000 (the "Payment") which does not comprise any of the Exploration Expenditure in clause 4.1(a); and
(b) issue to UEC (or, in UEC's sole and absolute discretion, to its nominee) 1,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of Uran (collectively, the "Shares").
(the Payment and the Shares being, collectively, the "Deposit" herein; and it being acknowledged and agreed that the Deposit will, at all times, remain non-refundable, notwithstanding the ongoing status of this Agreement, for which Uran will have no recourse as against UEC or its nominee for any reason.
4. EARN-IN RIGHT
4.1 Earn-in Requirements and Earn-In Period
(a) UEC grants Uran an exclusive right to earn the Earn-In Interest in the Tenements in return for Uran incurring minimum cumulative Exploration Expenditures on the Tenements and issuing Shares as follows:
(A) an initial US$100,000.00 of the Exploration Expenditures by the 1st anniversary date of the Effective Date;
(B) an additional US$200,000.00 of the Exploration Expenditures by the 2nd anniversary date of the Effective Date;
(C) an additional US$300,000.00 of the Exploration Expenditures by the 3rd anniversary date of the Effective Date;
(D) an additional US$400,000 of the Exploration Expenditures by the 4th anniversary date of the Effective Date; and
(E) the final US$500,000.00 of the Exploration Expenditures together with the preparation and delivery by Uran to UEC of a Feasibility Study by the 5th anniversary date of the Effective Date,
with the understanding that, with the prior written approval of UEC, any such minimum Exploration Expenditures may be satisfied by the cash payment by Uran to UEC in lieu thereof, and with the further understanding that any year's minimum Exploration Expenditure requirement above may, in the sole and absolute discretion of Uran, be either increased or accelerated subject to the ongoing requirement that not less US$1,500,000.00 in cumulative Exploration Expenditures must be expended during the Earn-In Period; and
(A) an initial 750,000 of the Additional Shares on the 1st anniversary date of the Effective Date;
(B) an additional 750,000 of the Additional Shares on the 2nd anniversary date of the Effective Date; and
C) the final 750,000 of the Additional Shares on the 3rd anniversary date of the Effective Date,
(collectively, the "Earn-in Requirements").
(b) Upon request by UEC, Uran must promptly provide written evidence of its Exploration Expenditures on the Tenements.
(d) Upon the expiry of the Earn-in Period if Uran has completed each of its Earn-in Requirements, as detailed in clause 4.1(a)(i) and clause 4.1(a)(ii), Uran will have earned a 65% Earn-in Interest in the Tenements and Uran will provide notice in writing to UEC that it has satisfied the Earn-in Requirements within the Earn-in Period.
(e) Upon satisfying the Earn-in Requirements, UEC agrees to immediately transfer a 65% Earn-in Interest in the Tenements to Uran. To this end, XXX agrees that it will provide Uran with a duly executed and registrable transfer in respect of a 65% interest in the Tenements and such other documents as are reasonably required by Uran to enable Uran to be registered as the legal and be the beneficial holder of that 65% Earn-in Interest in and to the Tenements.
(f) Upon satisfaction of the Earn-in Requirements required under clause 4.1(a), and Xxxx giving notice to UEC under clause 4.1(d), the joint venture interests of the Parties in and to the Tenements going forward (each then a "Joint Venture Interest") will be:
(i) Uran - 65%; and
(ii) UEC - 35%.
(g) Uran may, by giving not less than 30 calendar days' prior written notice to UEC, withdraw from this Agreement at any time during the Earn-in Period; provided, however, that Xxxx has already provided the non-refundable Deposit to UEC and, provided further, that Xxxx has spent not less than US$250,000 in Exploration Expenditures on the Tenements prior to said termination, in which case Uran shall hold 0% interest in the Tenements and will have no further obligation to UEC to satisfy the outstanding parts of the then remaining Earn-in Requirements.
(h) Upon withdrawal in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (g) above, Uran will be discharged from all further rights, obligations and liabilities under this Agreement, save and except for any obligation or liability which has accrued prior to the date of withdrawal.
(i) Upon earning a 65% Joint Venture Interest in accordance with clause 4.1, each Party shall contribute to Exploration Expenditures in accordance with their respective Joint Venture Interests and in accordance with programmes determined by the Management Committee and the Operator in accordance with clauses 7 and 8 or suffer dilution in accordance with clause 9. The liability of the Parties in each case is several in proportion to their respective Joint Venture Interests and shall not be joint or joint and several.
(j) During the Earn-in Period Uran (by itself or through its employees and contractors):
(i) shall incur the Exploration Expenditures and carry out exploration on the Tenements in its absolute discretion in compliance with applicable law and in accordance with good mining practices, maintaining proper books and accounts and adequate insurance; and
(ii) shall not be subject to any directions by UEC but shall immediately provide and advise UEC of any and all material results arising from the expenditure and results associated with any such Exploration Expenditures.
5. FORMATION OF JOINT VENTURE
5.1 As and from the date Uran earns a 65% Joint Venture Interest pursuant to clause 4.1 of this Agreement, Uran and UEC shall, subject to all appropriate and applicable legal and tax advice, form an unincorporated joint venture on the commercial terms set out in this Agreement and otherwise on terms and conditions acceptable to both parties (the "Joint Venture").
5.2 The property of the Joint Venture will be:
(a) the area of land the subject of the Tenements;
(b) all mining information related to the exploration operations, mining operations and joint venture operations; and
(c) all mineral concentrate and ore derived from the Tenements.
5.3 Each Party shall be the beneficial owner as tenant in common of an undivided share of the Joint Venture Tenements in proportion to their Joint Venture Interest.
5.4 Each Party shall be entitled to take in kind and separately dispose of, in proportion to their Joint Venture Interest, all minerals produced by the Joint Venture.
6. MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE JOINT VENTURE
The Parties agree that:
(b) during the term of the Joint Venture, the Operator of the Joint Venture will be responsible, subject to clause 7 below, for all the matters described in clauses 6(a)(i) and (ii) above;
(c) each Party will consult, in advance of mineral exploration and operations activities on the Tenements, with the other Party on all material aspects of such exploration and operations activities in respect of the Tenements;
(i) confidential information relating to the Tenements and other assets of the Joint Venture; and
(ii) other confidential information disclosed to it by the other Party from disclosure to third parties, subject to the usual industry exceptions (such as where the information is publicly available, where disclosure is required by law and disclosures to prospective financiers and buyers);
(e) confidentiality obligations terminate on the earlier of:
(i) the date of execution of the definitive agreement, if any, contemplated in clause 12 below (which will contain its own, more detailed, confidentiality provisions); or
(ii) one year after the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; and
As soon as practicable after Xxxx has earned a Joint Venture Interest pursuant to clause 4.1, the Parties will form and thereafter maintain a management committee (the "Management Committee") which shall meet not less than once in each quarter and more often if so required by the Operator. Management Committee meetings will be held in at a mutually convenient time and place and may be held by video or telephone conference at the discretion of the Parties.
7.2 Representatives
Each Party will be entitled, by written notice to the other Party, to appoint two representatives (and one alternate representative) as members of the Management Committee and to remove any person(s) so appointed and to appoint another person(s) in his or her place. Each party will be entitled to have further consultants and technical personnel present at the meetings of the Management Committee, but those persons will not be entitled to vote.
7.3 Powers
The Management Committee may review and give directions to the Operator as to Joint Venture operations and will consider and approve (subject to modification or otherwise) the nature and content of programmes and budgets relating to Joint Venture operations proposed by the Operator.
7.4 Voting
(a) The voting power of each Party at meetings of the Management Committee shall be in proportion to the Joint Venture Interest of that Party at the date of the meeting.
(b) Subject to clause 7.5, all decisions of the Management Committee shall be made by a majority of votes of the Joint Venture Interests of the Parties as they may be from time to time.
7.5 Special Resolutions
Management Committee decision-making is to ordinarily be on the basis of a majority Joint Venture Interest vote, however, a special resolution of 75% of the Joint Venture Interests will be required for decisions relating to the following:
(a) any expenditure or commitment to expenditure (whether capital or operating) by an amount in excess of 10% of the total expenditure provided for in an approved budget;
(b) the incurring of a debt on behalf of the Parties as obligors to any Party or an Affiliate of a Party in any amount or to any other person in an amount in excess of $50,000.00 outstanding at any one time (otherwise than under an approved budget);
(c) the giving jointly by the Parties of any guarantee (whether direct or indirect) to secure the obligation of any person arising under the Agreement or otherwise in relation to Tenements;
(d) the institution, defence, compromise or settlement of any court or arbitral proceedings involving the Joint Venture involving an amount in excess of $50,000.00;
(e) the compromise or settlement of any insurance claim involving an amount in excess of $50,000.00;
(f) any matter going to the fundamental operation of the Joint Venture or the relationship between the Parties including any decision that the Joint Venture be conducted by a joint venture company ("Joint Venture Company");
(g) where the Joint Venture is conducted by a Joint Venture Company, the appointment and removal of the senior officers of the Joint Venture Company including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operations officer and any resident or mine manager;
(h) except as expressly provided otherwise in the Agreement, any decision to commence or prepare a feasibility study;
(i) any decision to establish mining operations;
(j) any decision to suspend or defer Joint Venture activities or place any mining operation on a care and maintenance basis or to commence or recommence operations at a mining operation;
(k) any decision to abandon or surrender, or any amendment to or waiver in respect of, any mineral claims which are comprised in the Tenements;
(l) irrespective of whether expressly contemplated in an approved program or approved budget, approval of the sale or disposal of any property of the Joint Venture having a market value in excess of $1,000,000.00;
(m) irrespective of whether expressly contemplated in an approved program or approved budget, approval of any purchase of any item of property (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible), having a value in excess of $1,000,000.00;
(n) if applicable, the review and approval of annual ore reserve estimates prepared by the Operator, as appropriate for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101;
(o) any decision to terminate, remove, appoint or replace an Operator or to enforce any of the provisions of the Agreement against the Operator;
(p) the making of a contract between the Parties as joint venturers and a Party or an Affiliate of a Party;
(q) a change to the accounting procedure for the time being of the Joint Venture including the appointment and removal of auditors; and
(r) the Operator's fee.
8. OPERATOR
8.1 Upon formation of the Joint Venture, Uran will be the Operator of the Joint Venture (the "Operator").
8.2 The Operator will (by itself or through its employees, agents or contractors) have the conduct of all the operations of the Joint Venture on behalf of the Parties, subject at all times to the directions of the Management Committee established under clause 7.1 and for this purpose shall have possession and control of the Joint Venture property.
8.3 The Operator shall conduct Joint Venture operations in accordance with programmes and budgets and decisions made by the Management Committee.
8.4 The Operator shall, among other usual and standard obligations, keep the Tenements in good standing and free of Encumbrances, comply with applicable law, maintain proper books and accounts and adequate insurance, and conduct Joint Venture operations in accordance with accepted mining and exploration methods and practices.
8.5 The Operator will promptly provide timely technical reports including Exploration Expenditures to each of the Parties and keep the Parties immediately informed of any material results as soon as they are available.
9.1 After Uran has earned a Joint Venture Interest under clause 4.1 of this Agreement by completion of the Earn-In Requirements, each Party is obliged to contribute to Exploration Expenditures pro rata in proportion to its Joint Venture Interest. Subject to clauses 9.2 and 9.3, if a Party (the "Diluting Party") fails to duly make a contribution to Exploration Expenditure pursuant to a call made by the Operator that it is obliged to make, then the Joint Venture Interest of that Party in the Joint Venture shall dilute as follows (and the Joint Venture Interest of the other Party shall increase accordingly):
Where:
I = is the new percentage Joint Venture Interest of the Diluting Party;
A = is the total Joint Venture expenditure incurred or deemed to have been
incurred by the Diluting Party as at the date of the calculation; and
B = the total Joint Venture expenditure incurred or deemed to have been incurred
by all Parties as at the date of the calculation.
For the purposes of this calculation, at the time of Uran earning a Joint Venture Interest in accordance with clause 4.1, the Parties deemed Joint Venture expenditures will be as follows:
(a) Uran - US$1,575,000; and
(b) Uranium Energy - US$848,000
9.2 If a contribution to Exploration Expenditures pursuant to a call made by the Operator is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement, then the Operator must issue a notice to each Party (the "Cash Call Notice") for each applicable calendar month. Any Cash Call Notice must not be issued more than 20 Business Days but not less than 10 Business Days in advance of the calendar month to which the Cash Call Notice relates.
9.3 All contributions to Exploration Expenditures required to be made by a Party under this Agreement must be made by that Party paying to the Operator, on or before the first day of the month to which the Cash Call Notice relates, the amount stated in the Cash Call Notice as being the amount due to be contributed by that Party.
(a) As soon as practicable after the Execution Date of this Agreement, UEC will provide to Uran all technical information and data it has regarding the Tenements.
(b) Uran shall deliver to UEC a report on the nature and results of any Exploration Expenditure carried out on the Tenements (including copies of all relevant geological, geochemical and geophysical data) within 30 calendar days of the completion of each three month period during the Earn-in Period. Uran will, without delay, notify UEC of any material exploration results on the Tenements.
11. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTIES
The relationship of the Parties is that of joint venturers and nothing contained in this Agreement constitutes either of them as agent or partner of the other, or creates any agency or partnership for any purpose whatsoever.
The Parties agree that they will negotiate in good faith and use best efforts to execute a detailed and definitive option and joint venture agreement on terms customary in the industry (including a dispute resolution clause, first right of refusal clause, dilution clause, force majeure rights and clauses that are usually contained in such joint venture agreements) embodying the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement as soon as practicable upon Uran completing an Accepted Due Diligence review of the Tenements. In the meantime this Agreement is intended to be legally binding on the Parties until it is replaced by the detailed definitive option and joint venture agreements or otherwise terminated.
13. CAVEATS
Either Party may register this Agreement as a dealing in respect of the Tenements and may lodge any caveats or other notices that it thinks fit to protect its interest under this Agreement, and each Party agrees that, during the continuance of this Agreement, it will not take any steps to remove those caveats.
14. ASSIGNMENT AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
14.1 Each Party may at any time assign part or all of its Joint Venture Interest to an Affiliate of that Party as long as the Affiliate enters into an agreement with the remaining Party on terms to its satisfaction including terms by which:
(a) it agrees to be bound by the Agreement; and
(b) if an Affiliate to which a Party has assigned the whole or any part of its Joint Venture Interest ceases to be an Affiliate of the assigning Party it must immediately re-transfer that Joint Venture Interest to the assigning Party.
14.2 Except for an assignment and transfer under clause 14.1 above, each Party will have a right of first refusal in respect of any sale or assignment by the other Party of its Joint Venture Interest.
14.3 No assignment in whole or in part of a Joint Venture Interest to a third person (including an Affiliate) will be effective unless and until:
(a) the assignee agrees with the other Party (in form and terms satisfactory to that Party) to assume and perform the duties, liabilities, terms and conditions by the Agreement binding on the assigning Party in relation to the Joint Venture Interest being assigned; and
(b) the assignee secures any and all necessary approvals of any applicable governmental authority to that assignment.
14.4 For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties acknowledge and agree that the rights and obligations of Uran in this Agreement may be assumed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uran whether currently in existence or incorporated after the Effective Date and the assumption of those rights and obligations by that wholly owned subsidiary does not constitute an Affiliate for the purposes of clause 14.1.
15. TERMINATION
A Party is not entitled to terminate this Agreement for non-performance by the other Party without first giving the Party in default a written notice at the address of such Party in default, as indicated in this Agreement, specifying the default. To enable a termination, the notice shall require that the default be remedied within 21 calendar days of the delivery of the notice to the Party in default and the Party in default must then fail to remedy the default within that 21 day period.
16. FORCE MAJUERE
16.1 Subject to clause 16.4, a Party will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of its obligations under the Agreement (other than an obligation to pay money or issue shares) if as soon as possible after the beginning of the Force Majeure affecting the ability of the Party to perform any of its obligations under the Agreement, it gives a notice to the other Party that complies with clause 16.2.
16.2 A notice given under clause 16.1 must:
(a) specify the obligations the Party cannot perform;
(b) fully describe the Force Majeure;
(c) estimate the time during which the Force Majeure will continue; and
(d) specify the measures proposed to be adopted to remedy or xxxxx the Force Majeure.
16.3 The Party that is prevented from carrying out its obligations under the Agreement as a result of Force Majeure must:
(a) remedy the Force Majeure to the extent reasonably practicable and resume performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably possible; and
(b) take all action reasonably practicable (but without any obligation to make any monetary payment) to mitigate any Liability suffered by the other Party as a result of its failure to carry out its obligations under the Agreement.
Despite the foregoing, nothing in this clause 16.3 will require the Party that is prevented from performing its obligations under the Agreement as a result of Force Majeure to resolve or compromise any labour dispute or to question or to test the validity of any law, rule, regulation or order of any governmental authority or to perform its obligations under the Agreement if Force Majeure renders performance impossible.
16.4 Any time period provided for in the Agreement will be extended by a period equivalent to the period of delay resulting from Force Majeure, but if Force Majeure continues for more than three months, then either Party may at any time thereafter by notice in writing to the other Party terminate the Agreement.
16.5 If a Party terminates the Agreement under clause 16.4, then:
(a) each Party will be released from further performance of their obligations under the Agreement; and
(b) the termination will not release or discharge either Party from any Liability that arose or accrued prior to the date of termination of the Agreement.
17. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
(a) In the event of any dispute, question or difference of opinion between the Parties concerning or arising out of or under the Agreement (the "Dispute"), a Party may give to the other Party a notice (the "Dispute Notice") specifying the Dispute and requiring its resolution under this clause 17. the making of a contract between the Parties as joint venturers and a Party or an Affiliate of a Party;
(b) Subject to (a), all Disputes must be resolved in accordance with the provisions of this clause 17.
17.2 Dispute Representatives to seek resolution
(a) If the Dispute is not resolved within seven calendar days after a Dispute Notice is given to the other Party, each Party must nominate 1 representative from its senior management to resolve the Dispute (each, a "Dispute Representative"), who must negotiate in good faith using their respective commercially reasonable efforts to attain a resolution of the Dispute.
(b) If the Dispute is not resolved within 14 days of the Dispute being referred to the respective Dispute Representatives, then a Party may, subject to clause 17.6, submit the Dispute to arbitration in accordance with clause 17.3.
17.3 Arbitration
All Disputes which have not been resolved under clause 17.2 must, subject to clauses 17.6 and 17.7, be finally resolved by arbitration conducted under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce ("ICC Rules") and:
(a) unless the Parties agree otherwise, the number of arbitrators will be 3 and will be appointed by the President of the ICC (or its nominee);
(b) each arbitrator must be independent of the Parties with expertise in the subject matter of the Dispute;
(c) the place of arbitration will be Vancouver, British Columbia;
(d) the language of the arbitration will be English;
(e) the level of discovery will be determined by reference to proportionality (that is, what is reasonable having regard to the nature and size of the Dispute);
(f) any award or determination of the arbitration panel will be final and binding on the Parties and there will be no appeal on any ground, including, for greater certainty, any appeal on a question of law, a question of fact, or a question of mixed fact and law;
(g) the arbitration panel may apportion the costs of the arbitration, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Parties, between or among the Parties in such manner as the arbitrators consider reasonable;
(h) the arbitration panel will be bound by the provisions of the Agreement, which will prevail in case of conflict (of interpretation or otherwise) between the Agreement and the ICC Rules; and
(i) all matters relating to the arbitration must be kept confidential to the maximum extent permitted by law and no individual will be appointed as an arbitrator unless that individual agrees in writing to be bound by this clause 17.3.
The award rendered by an arbitrator may be enforced by judgment of any court having jurisdiction or an application may be made to such court for acceptance of the award and an order of enforcement, as the case may be.
17.5 Performance of obligations during Dispute
During the existence of any Dispute, the Parties will continue to perform all of their obligations under the Agreement without prejudice to their position in respect of such Dispute, unless the Parties otherwise agree.
17.6 Urgent interlocutory relief
The Parties may not commence legal proceedings in any court except for urgent interlocutory relief or to enforce an arbitration award.
If:
(a) there is any Dispute as to the application of any industry or technical standard or any rules, practices or customs of any trade or profession; or
(b) whenever during the term of the Agreement the Parties agree that a Dispute must be resolved by an Expert,
then the Dispute must be referred to an Expert for determination and clause 17.8 will apply in place of clause 17.8.
(a) The procedure for the appointment of an Expert will be as follows:
(i) the Party wishing the appointment to be made must give notice in writing to that effect to the other Party and give details of the Dispute which it proposes be resolved by the Expert;
(ii) if the matter to be referred to the Expert is not resolved by the Parties within 14 calendar days from the date of the notice referred to in clause 17.8(a)(i), then the Parties must meet and endeavour to agree upon a single Expert (who must be independent of the Parties and have qualifications and experience appropriate to the subject matter of the Dispute) to whom the Dispute will be referred for determination; and
(iii) if within 30 calendar days of the notice referred to in clause 17.8(a)(i) the Parties fail to agree upon the appointment of a single Expert, then the Parties must request the then President of the ICC to appoint the Expert. If the then President of the ICC does not appoint the Expert within 10 calendar days of receiving the Parties' request, then the Expert will be designated by a Judge of the British Columbia Supreme Court.
(b) The Expert will be instructed to:
(i) determine the Dispute within the shortest practicable time; and
(ii) deliver a report stating its opinion with respect to the matters in dispute setting out the reasons for the decision.
(c) The Expert must determine the procedures for the conduct of the process in order to resolve the Dispute and must provide each Party with a fair opportunity to make submissions in relation to the Dispute.
(d) Any determination of the Dispute by the Expert must be made as an expert and not as an arbitrator and the determination of the Expert will be final and binding on the Parties without appeal so far as the law allows except in the case of manifest error or where a Party has not been provided with a fair opportunity to make submissions in relation to the Dispute.
(e) Each Party must bear its own costs of and incidental to any proceedings under this clause 17.8. The costs of the Expert must be borne by the Parties in equal shares.
18. Miscellaneous
18.1 Each Party shall sign, execute and perform all deeds, acts, documents and things as may reasonably be required by the other Party to effectively carry out and give effect to the terms and intentions of this Agreement.
18.2 Each Party shall be liable for their own costs relating to the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and any document executed under it.
18.3 No modification or alteration of the terms of this Agreement shall be binding unless made in writing dated subsequent to the Execution Date of this Agreement and duly executed by the Parties.
18.4 If any provision of this Agreement is invalid and not enforceable in accordance with its terms, all other provisions which are self sustaining and separately enforceable without regard to the invalid provision shall be and continue to be, valid and forceful in accordance with their terms.
18.5 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic transmission) each of which shall be deemed for all purposes to be an original and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
18.6 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law from time to time applicable in the United States of America and, subject to clause 17, the Parties agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Texas.
18.7 A reference to dollars or currency is a reference to US dollars.
19. DEFINITIONS
Administration Costs means administrative overheads, duties and expenses provided that only administrative overheads, duties and expenses incurred by Uran or the Operator (as the case may be).
Affiliate means, in respect of a Party, a body corporate with which that Party is affiliated where:
(a) one body corporate is affiliated with another body corporate if one of them is the subsidiary of the other or both are subsidiaries of the same body corporate or each of them is controlled by the same person; and
(b) if two bodies corporate are affiliated with the same body corporate at the same time, they are deemed to be affiliated with each other.
Business Day means any day of the calendar week other than a Saturday, Sunday or a public or statutory holiday in the place where an act is to be performed or a payment is to be made.
Effective Date means the date Uran provides notice to Uranium Energy in accordance with clause 1.1 of this Agreement that it is satisfied with its Accepted Due Diligence investigations in the Joint Venture Tenements.
Encumbrance means, other than as permitted under clause 13, any mortgage, charge, pledge, hypothecation, security interest, assignment, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, title retention agreement or arrangement, royalty, restrictive covenant or other encumbrance of any nature or any agreement to give or create any of the foregoing;
Expert means an expert appointed under and acting pursuant to clause 17.8.
Diluting Party means the Party referred to in clause 9.
Exploration Expenditure means all costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with the activities of exploration, development and mining of the Joint Venture Tenements for minerals, accounted for in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards including (without limitation) Administration Costs and Outgoings relating to or in connection with the Joint Venture Tenements.
Feasibility Study means a detailed study or studies into the establishment of a mine or mines in whole or in part on the Tenements sufficient to allow a decision to be made as to whether an economically viable commercial mining operation should be carried out in the whole or in part of the Tenements. Any feasibility study shall be in detailed and comprehensive form that may be submitted to a reputable lending institution and acceptable to it for the purposes of raising capital sufficient to establish and bring into production an economically commercial mining operation, either on the Tenements alone or in conjunction with other mining tenements.
Force Majeure means, other than as a consequence of the negligence or default of a Party, an event or cause which is beyond the control of the Party claiming force majeure, not able to be overcome by the exercise of reasonable care, proper precautions and the consideration of reasonable alternatives with the intention of avoiding the effects of the force majeure by that Party, and which could not have been reasonably foreseen, and includes (subject to satisfying the requirements of the foregoing):
(a) an act of God (other than adverse weather);
(b) cyclones, fire, flood;
(c) acts of war, acts of public enemies, terrorist acts, riots or civil commotions;
(d) strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances;
(e) laws, rules and regulations or orders of any governmental authority enacted or made after the Effective Date that cause activities at the Tenements to cease;
(f) protests, demonstrations or other events by environmental lobbyists, NGOs or local community groups that cause activities at the Tenements to cease,
but does not include:
(g) economic hardship, or for lack of money, credit or markets or inability to pay any sum of money;
(h) changes in the condition, availability, cost or market price (or any combination of the foregoing) of any good, product, metal, consumable or service used or consumed by a Party; or
(i) delays in the performance of the obligations of a Party or its personnel unless that delay is itself caused by Force Majeure or by the default or negligence of the other Party or its personnel;
Operator means Xxxx, as appointed pursuant to clause 8.1
Outgoings means all rents, rates, survey fees and other fees and charges relating to or in connection with the Tenements.
Quarter means a calendar quarter ending 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in each year.
If Uranium Energy Corp. agrees to the above terms and conditions could you please sign the execution paragraph set out below and return this Agreement to Xxxx'x registered office.
Yours faithfully
"Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx"
XXXXXXXXX XXXXX
Director
Uran LIMITED
By execution of this Agreement, Uranium Energy Corp. acknowledges and agrees to the terms and conditions set out above.
"Xxxx Xxxxxx"
Director
Uranium Energy Corp.
Dated this 14th day of January, 2009
SCHEDULE 1
Tenements
The Grants Ridge Uranium Project is located in the New Mexico, USA, comprised in Uranium Energy Corp.'s leases (and any applications) within Sections 4 and 9 of T12N R9W, as well as all of Uranium Energy Corp.'s leases adjacent to and around the F33 Mine in T11N and T12N R9W covering an area of about 4,200 acres and is more particularly described below.
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
T11N R9W Section 3 |
NMMC175452 |
DD 4 |
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NMMC175457 |
DD 53 |
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NMMC175564 |
DD 1 |
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NMMC175565 |
DD 2 |
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NMMC175566 |
DD 3 |
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NMMC175567 |
DD 14 |
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NMMC175568 |
DD 15 |
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NMMC175569 |
DD 16 |
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NMMC175570 |
DD 17 |
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NMMC175571 |
DD 27 |
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NMMC175572 |
DD 28 |
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NMMC175573 |
DD 29 |
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NMMC175574 |
DD 30 |
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NMMC175575 |
DD 40 |
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NMMC175576 |
DD 41 |
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NMMC175577 |
DD 42 |
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NMMC175578 |
DD 43 |
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T11N R9W Section 4 |
NMMC175453 |
DD 5 |
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NMMC175454 |
DD 6 |
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NMMC175455 |
DD 7 |
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NMMC175456 |
DD 8 |
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NMMC175484 |
DD 18 |
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NMMC175585 |
DD 19 |
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NMMC175586 |
DD 20 |
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NMMC175587 |
DD 21 |
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NMMC175593 |
DD 31 |
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NMMC175594 |
DD 32 |
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NMMC175595 |
DD 33 |
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NMMC175596 |
DD 34 |
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NMMC175602 |
DD 44 |
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NMMC175603 |
DD 45 |
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NMMC175604 |
DD 46 |
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NMMC175605 |
DD47 |
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NMMC176502 |
DD190 |
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
NMMC176503 |
DD 191 |
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NMMC176504 |
DD 192 |
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NMMC176505 |
DD 193 |
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NMMC176506 |
DD 194 |
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NMMC176507 |
DD 195 |
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NMMC176508 |
DD 196 |
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NMMC176509 |
DD 197 |
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NMMC176510 |
DD 198 |
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NMMC176511 |
DD 199 |
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NMMC176512 |
DD 200 |
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NMMC176513 |
DD 201 |
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NMMC176514 |
DD 202 |
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NMMC176515 |
DD 203 |
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NMMC176516 |
DD 204 |
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NMMC176517 |
DD 205 |
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NMMC176518 |
DD 206 |
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NMMC176519 |
DD 207 |
|
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NMMC176520 |
DD 208 |
|
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NMMC176521 |
DD 209 |
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|
T11N R9W Section 8 |
NMMC175825 |
DD 154 |
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NMMC175826 |
DD 155 |
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NMMC175827 |
DD 156 |
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NMMC175828 |
DD 157 |
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NMMC175829 |
DD 158 |
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NMMC175830 |
DD 159 |
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NMMC175831 |
DD 160 |
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NMMC175832 |
DD 161 |
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NMMC175833 |
DD 162 |
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NMMC175834 |
DD 163 |
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NMMC175835 |
DD 164 |
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NMMC175836 |
DD 165 |
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NMMC175837 |
DD 166 |
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NMMC175838 |
DD 167 |
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NMMC175839 |
DD 168 |
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NMMC175840 |
DD 169 |
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NMMC175841 |
DD 170 |
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NMMC175842 |
DD 171 |
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NMMC175843 |
DD 172 |
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NMMC175844 |
DD 173 |
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NMMC175845 |
DD 174 |
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NMMC175846 |
DD 175 |
|
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NMMC175847 |
DD 176 |
|
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NMMC175848 |
DD 177 |
|
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NMMC175849 |
DD 178 |
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NMMC175850 |
DD 179 |
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NMMC175851 |
DD 180 |
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
NMMC175852 |
DD 181 |
|
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NMMC175853 |
DD 182 |
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NMMC175854 |
DD 183 |
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NMMC175855 |
DD 184 |
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NMMC175856 |
DD 185 |
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NMMC175857 |
DD 186 |
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NMMC175858 |
DD 187 |
|
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NMMC175859 |
DD 188 |
|
|
NMMC175860 |
DD 189 |
|
|
T11N R9W Section 10 |
|
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NMMC175576 |
DD 41 |
|
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NMMC175577 |
DD 42 |
|
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NMMC175578 |
DD 43 |
|
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T12N R9W Section 22 |
|
|
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NMMC175671 |
DD 136 |
|
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NMMC175672 |
DD 137 |
|
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NMMC175673 |
DD 138 |
|
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NMMC175674 |
DD 139 |
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NMMC175675 |
DD 140 |
|
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NMMC175676 |
DD 141 |
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NMMC175677 |
DD 142 |
|
|
NMMC175678 |
DD 143 |
|
|
NMMC175679 |
DD 144 |
|
|
NMMC175680 |
DD 145 |
|
|
NMMC175681 |
DD 146 |
|
|
T12N R9W Section 26 |
|
|
|
NMMC175535 |
DD 97 |
|
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NMMC175536 |
DD 98 |
|
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NMMC175537 |
DD 99 |
|
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NMMC175538 |
DD 100 |
|
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NMMC175539 |
DD 101 |
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NMMC175540 |
DD 102 |
|
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NMMC175542 |
DD 107 |
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NMMC175543 |
DD 108 |
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|
NMMC175544 |
DD 109 |
|
|
NMMC175545 |
DD 110 |
|
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NMMC175546 |
DD 111 |
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NMMC175547 |
DD 112 |
|
|
NMMC175548 |
DD 113 |
|
|
NMMC175553 |
DD 118 |
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NMMC175554 |
DD 119 |
|
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NMMC175555 |
DD 120 |
|
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NMMC175556 |
DD 121 |
|
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NMMC175557 |
DD 122 |
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
NMMC175558 |
DD 123 |
|
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NMMC175559 |
DD 124 |
|
|
T12N R9W Section 27 |
|
|
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NMMC175527 |
DD 73 |
|
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NMMC175528 |
DD 74 |
|
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NMMC175529 |
DD 75 |
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NMMC175530 |
DD 76 |
|
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NMMC175531 |
DD 77 |
|
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NMMC175532 |
DD 78 |
|
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NMMC175533 |
DD 79 |
|
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NMMC175658 |
DD 88 |
|
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NMMC175659 |
DD 89 |
|
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NMMC175660 |
DD 90 |
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NMMC175661 |
DD 91 |
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NMMC175662 |
DD 92 |
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NMMC175663 |
DD 93 |
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NMMC175664 |
DD 94 |
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NMMC175665 |
DD 95 |
|
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NMMC175666 |
DD 131 |
|
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NMMC175667 |
DD 132 |
|
|
NMMC175668 |
DD 133 |
|
|
NMMC175669 |
DD 134 |
|
|
NMMC175670 |
DD 135 |
|
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NMMC175671 |
DD 136 |
|
|
NMMC175672 |
DD 137 |
|
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NMMC175673 |
DD 138 |
|
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NMMC175674 |
DD 139 |
|
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NMMC175675 |
DD 140 |
|
|
T12N R9W Section 34 |
|
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NMMC 175458 |
DD 54 |
|
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NMMC 175459 |
DD 55 |
|
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NMMC 175460 |
DD 56 |
|
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NMMC 175461 |
DD 57 |
|
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NMMC 175462 |
DD 63 |
|
|
NMMC 175463 |
DD 64 |
|
|
NMMC 175464 |
DD 65 |
|
|
NMMC 175465 |
DD 66 |
|
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NMMC 175466 |
DD 68 |
|
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NMMC 175467 |
DD 69 |
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NMMC 175468 |
DD 70 |
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NMMC 175525 |
DD 71 |
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NMMC 175526 |
DD 72 |
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NMMC 175611 |
DD 61 |
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NMMC 175612 |
DD 62 |
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NMMC 175655 |
DD 58 |
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
NMMC 175656 |
DD 59 |
|
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NMMC 175657 |
DD 60 |
|
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NMMC 176218 |
DD 67 |
|
|
T12N RSW Section 35 |
|
|
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NMMC175470 |
DD 105 |
|
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NMMC175471 |
DD 106 |
|
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NMMC175540 |
DD 102 |
|
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NMMC175541 |
DD 103 |
|
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NMMC175548 |
DD 113 |
|
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NMMC175549 |
DD 114 |
|
|
NMMC175550 |
DD 115 |
|
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NMMC175551 |
DD 116 |
|
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NMMC175552 |
DD 117 |
|
|
NMMC175559 |
DD 124 |
|
|
NMMC175560 |
DD 125 |
|
|
NMMC175561 |
DD 126 |
|
|
NMMC175562 |
DD 127 |
|
|
NMMC175563 |
DD 128 |
|
|
T12N RSW Section 4 |
|
|
|
NMMC180071 |
Xxxx #2 |
|
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NMMC180072 |
Xxxx #3 |
|
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NMMC180073 |
Xxxx #4 |
|
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NMMC180074 |
Xxxx #5 |
|
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NMMC180075 |
Xxxx #6 |
|
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NMMC180076 |
Xxxx #7 |
|
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NMMC180077 |
Xxxx #8 |
|
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NMMC180078 |
Xxxx #9 |
|
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NMMC180079 |
Xxxx #10 |
|
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NMMC180080 |
Xxxx #11 |
|
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NMMC180081 |
Xxxx #12 |
|
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NMMC180082 |
Xxxx #13 |
|
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NMMC180083 |
Xxxx #14 |
|
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NMMC180084 |
Xxxx #15 |
|
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NMMC180085 |
Xxxx #16 |
|
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NMMC180086 |
Xxxx #17 |
|
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NMMC180087 |
Xxxx #18 |
|
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NMMC180088 |
Xxxx #19 |
|
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NMMC180089 |
Xxxx #20 |
|
|
NMMC180090 |
Xxxx #21 |
|
|
NMMC180091 |
Xxxx #22 |
|
|
NMMC180092 |
Xxxx #23 |
|
|
NMMC180093 |
Xxxx #24 |
|
|
NMMC180094 |
Xxxx #25 |
|
|
NMMC180095 |
Xxxx #26 |
|
|
NMMC180096 |
Xxxx #27 |
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
NMMC180097 |
Xxxx #28 |
|
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NMMC180098 |
Xxxx #29 |
|
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NMMC180099 |
Xxxx #30 |
|
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NMMC180100 |
Xxxx #31 |
|
|
NMMC180101 |
Xxxx #32 |
|
|
NMMC180102 |
Xxxx #33 |
|
|
NMMC180103 |
Xxxx #34 |
|
|
NMMC180104 |
Xxxx #35 |
|
|
NMMC180105 |
Xxxx #36 |
|
|
T13N R10W Section 14 |
|
|
|
NMMC185423 |
Xxxx #2 |
|
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NMMC185424 |
Xxxx #3 |
|
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NMMC185425 |
Xxxx #4 |
|
|
NMMC185426 |
Xxxx #5 |
|
|
NMMC185427 |
Xxxx #6 |
|
|
NMMC185428 |
Xxxx #7 |
|
|
NMMC185429 |
Xxxx #8 |
|
|
NMMC185430 |
Xxxx #9 |
|
|
NMMC185431 |
Xxxx #10 |
|
|
NMMC185432 |
Xxxx #11 |
|
|
NMMC185433 |
Xxxx #12 |
|
|
NMMC185434 |
Xxxx #13 |
|
|
NMMC185435 |
Xxxx #14 |
|
|
NMMC185436 |
Xxxx #15 |
|
|
NMMC185437 |
Xxxx #16 |
|
|
T13N R10W Section 24 |
|
|
|
NMMC185439 |
Xxxx #18 |
|
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NMMC185440 |
Xxxx #19 |
|
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NMMC185441 |
Xxxx #20 |
|
|
NMMC185442 |
Xxxx #21 |
|
|
NMMC185443 |
Xxxx #22 |
|
|
NMMC185444 |
Xxxx #23 |
|
|
NMMC185445 |
Xxxx #24 |
|
|
NMMC185446 |
Xxxx #25 |
|
|
NMMC185447 |
Xxxx #26 |
|
|
NMMC185448 |
Xxxx #27 |
|
|
NMMC185449 |
Xxxx #28 |
|
|
NMMC185450 |
Xxxx #29 |
|
|
NMMC185451 |
Xxxx #30 |
|
|
NMMC185452 |
Xxxx #31 |
|
|
NMMC185453 |
Xxxx #32 |
|
|
NMMC185454 |
Xxxx #33 |
|
|
NMMC185455 |
Xxxx #34 |
|
|
NMMC185456 |
Xxxx #35 |
|
|
NMMC185457 |
Xxxx #36 |
|
Township |
BLM Number |
Claim Name |
|
NMMC185458 |
Xxxx #37 |
|
|
NMMC185459 |
Xxxx #38 |
|
|
NMMC185460 |
Xxxx #39 |
|
|
NMMC185461 |
Xxxx #40 |
|
|
NMMC185462 |
Xxxx #41 |
|
|
NMMC185463 |
Xxxx #42 |
|
|
NMMC185464 |
Xxxx #43 |
|
|
NMMC185465 |
Xxxx #44 |
|
|
T13N R9W Section 30 |
|
|
|
NMMC185467 |
Xxxx #46 |
|
|
NMMC185468 |
Xxxx #47 |
|
|
NMMC185469 |
Xxxx #48 |
|
|
NMMC185470 |
Xxxx #49 |
|
|
NMMC185471 |
Xxxx #50 |
|
|
NMMC185472 |
Xxxx #51 |
|
|
NMMC185473 |
Xxxx #52 |
|
|
NMMC185474 |
Xxxx #53 |
|
|
NMMC185475 |
Xxxx #54 |
|
|
NMMC185476 |
Xxxx #55 |
|
|
NMMC185477 |
Xxxx #56 |
|
|
NMMC185478 |
Xxxx #57 |
|
|
NMMC185479 |
Xxxx #58 |
|
|
NMMC185480 |
Xxxx #59 |
|
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NMMC185481 |
Xxxx #60 |
|
|
NMMC185482 |
Xxxx #61 |
|
|
NMMC185483 |
Xxxx #62 |
|
|
Private Leased Land |
320 acres - Paid in full until 1.7.2013 |
